Make beautifully crispy golden brown fried chicken drumsticks in the air fryer, tenderized and flavored in a homemade lemon and garlic marinade!
Easy and quick to make, and reheats beautifully in air fryer or oven.
Air fryer is the quickest and most handy tool in your kitchen.
Don’t miss our air fryer sausages, air fryer chicken and vegetables, pork chops, air fryer stuffed peppers. All made in air fryer!
Jump To
- Chicken Drumsticks Ingredients
- How To Make Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks
- Oven Instructions
- Tips For The Best Air Fryer Chicken Legs
- How to Check If the Chicken Is Cooked Through and Safe to Eat?
- Freezing, Storing and Reheating Leftovers
- Meal Prep Tip
- What to Serve with Air Fryer Chicken Legs
- More Air Fryer Recipes
- Did You Like This Recipe?
- Recipe Card
- Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks: FAQ
- Easy Chicken Recipes
- Comments
Chicken Drumsticks Ingredients
- Chicken - I used 4 chicken drumsticks, but you can also use 6-7 chicken wings or 4 thighs. Always try to pick high-quality organic chicken without antibiotics for the best flavor and texture. You might need to cook thighs for a few extra minutes, so having a chicken thermometer is helpful!
- Marinade - For ease, you can use your own homemade one or a store-bought lemon-garlic marinade. Oregano blends well with lemon and garlic, but you can also use rosemary, basil, or thyme.
- This recipe is perfect for families because the chicken can be marinated for at least 30 minutes before cooking.
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How To Make Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks
- Make the Marinade: Mix all ingredients in a bowl.
- Prepare the Chicken: Blot chicken drumsticks with a paper towel.
- Massage the chicken with the marinade in a large bowl or zip-lock bag. Refrigerate for 30 minutes (or 1-2 hours, if possible).
- Preheat the Air Fryer: Set air fryer to 375°F (follow manufacturer instructions).
- Cook the Chicken: Place chicken in the preheated air fryer basket. Air fry for 10 minutes. Flip drumsticks and air fry for another 10 minutes.
- Optional: Reheat leftover marinade in a pan to drizzle on top.)
- Serve: Chicken should be darkened, browned, and crispy.
- Garnish with lemon zest, lemon slices/wedges, and fresh oregano or parsley.
Oven Instructions
- Marinate the chicken as per the instructions above. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Bake the Chicken: Place marinated chicken drumsticks on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Bake in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes.
- Flip drumsticks halfway through baking for even cooking.
- Check for doneness: Chicken should be golden brown and reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
Tips For The Best Air Fryer Chicken Legs
- If you don’t have an air fryer, you can cook your chicken drumsticks in a pan with oil or bake them in the oven.
- For crispy skin, leave space between the drumsticks in the air fryer basket. If you make more, cook them in batches.
- Don't forget to flip the chicken halfway through cooking for a crispy crunch on all sides.
- For a spicy twist, add cayenne pepper, chili powder, or hot sauce to the marinade.
How to Check If the Chicken Is Cooked Through and Safe to Eat?
To ensure the chicken is cooked safely, check that it's not pink and that the juices run clear when you cut into it.
You can also use a meat thermometer to make sure it reaches 165°F (75°C) inside.
Freezing, Storing and Reheating Leftovers
- Storing. Store the cooked air fryer chicken in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 2-3 days. For the best flavor cook as much as you’ll eat in one go.
- Reheat. To prevent leftover chicken drumsticks from drying, reheat them in the oven (300 F) until warmed. You can also reheat leftovers in an air fryer at 375°F for 5 minutes.
- Freezing. If you need to freeze the chicken, it is best to freeze them uncooked.
- Make ahead. Rub the chicken with seasonings and store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 days. On the day of cooking, follow the instructions in this recipe.
Meal Prep Tip
You can marinate the chicken overnight and air fry the next day.
The chicken marinade can be made 1-2 days before and stored in the fridge.
What to Serve with Air Fryer Chicken Legs
🍗 With Dipping Sauces: Enjoy your crispy chicken with your favorite dipping sauce such as BBQ sauce or buffalo sauce.
🍗 With Sides: Serve chicken drumsticks with roasted vegetables, coleslaw, crispy potato wedges or mashed potatoes, Air Fryer French Fries, or Mexican street corn.
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Recipe Card
Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks (With Lemon Garlic)
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INGREDIENTS
- 4 pieces Chicken drumsticks , (legs) or sub with 6-7 chicken wings, or 4 thighs
Chicken Marinade
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 large garlic clove, if garlic is not strong enough, use 3 or even 4 cloves I used 2 quite large ones
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper or to taste
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 large lemon, juiced
- lemon zest , from one larger lemon
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1-2 teaspoon brown sugar
INSTRUCTIONS
- Mix all the marinade ingredients in a bowl.
- In a large bowl (or you can use a zip lock bag for this) massage the chicken drumsticks with the marinade and leave it in the fridge for 30 minutes or 1-2 hours if you have more time.
- Preheat air fryer to 375 degrees Fahrenheit according to manufacturer instructions. (Mine was 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes) Cosori 5.8 quart
- Once the air fryer is preheated, transfer the chicken into the basket and air fry for 10 minutes (discard the leftover marinade or reheat in a pan until gently simmering to drizzle on top when serving), and flip the chicken for the last 10 minutes. Total air frying time 20 minutes. Chicken should be darkened, browned and very crisp on the outside.
- You can garnish with extra lemon zest, lemon slices/wedges and fresh oregano or parsley.
- Enjoy with dipping sauces.
NOTES
- Storing. Store the cooked air fryer chicken in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 2-3 days. For the best flavor cook as much as you’ll eat in one go.
- Reheat. To prevent leftover chicken drumsticks from drying, reheat them in the oven (300 F) until warmed. You can also reheat leftovers in an air fryer at 375°F for 5 minutes.
ADD YOUR OWN PRIVATE NOTES
NUTRITION
Note: Nutrition information is estimated and varies based on the products used.
Full Nutrition Disclaimer can be found here.
Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks: FAQ
After the air fryer is preheated, put the marinated chicken in the basket. Cook at 375°F for 20 minutes, flipping the chicken after the first 10 minutes.
Place the chicken drumsticks in a single layer in the air fryer basket so they cook evenly and get crispy.
If you stack them, the meat will steam and cook unevenly, and the skin won't get crispy.
You can check if the chicken drumsticks are cooked by piercing the meat with a knife down to the bone.
The juices should run clear. You can also use a meat thermometer. Insert it into the thickest part of the chicken, and it should read 165 degrees F for the chicken to be fully cooked.
Absolutely! Cooking chicken in an air fryer is healthier because you don't need to use a lot of oil.
The air fryer is great for making juicy chicken drumsticks, breasts, wings, thighs, and other tasty recipes the whole family will enjoy!
No, you don't have to flip chicken in an air fryer, but it helps cook it evenly. Flipping makes the chicken crispier and more evenly browned.
Yes, it's a good idea to clean your air fryer after every use to keep it in good condition and prevent any leftover food residue from affecting the taste of future meals.
Regular cleaning also helps maintain optimal performance and prevents buildup of grease or debris.
Jane_Doe_91
This recipe's a lifesaver for someone with a tight budget and time constraints. Tastes great too!
FredS
not sure if an air fryer can really replace frying or grilling. seems like just a fancy convection oven to me.
healthyeater3000
Love how air frying requires less oil, making this chicken a healthier option! Anyone tried it with skin off?
FitMom101
I did, turns out less crispy but still delicious and definitely feels lighter!
BBQBOB45
air frying chicken is cool and all but it aint no BBQ, still pretty good for cold days though
SaraJane82
these were perfect!!!
Mike T.
just tried the air fryer chicken legs and wow, quick and tasty. perfect for a busy weeknight. thanks for sharing this, Julia!
Julia
thank you Mike!
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
Packed with bursting flavor of lemon garlic these air fryer chicken legs will become your family's favorite!